Sh˘riya Aragor˘ deep in thoughtShort movie directed by Simon de Meguro (Kinkazan Island, some years ago)

Self-presentation

My name is Sh˘riya Aragor˘ (Aragor˘ of the Laughing Badger House). I was born in France in a city that could
be compared to Ky˘to for many obvious or non-obvious reasons. I spent 10 years in Japan, from 1994 to 2003.
From the first day of my long stay in Japan, I had in mind to go enjoying some Kabuki at least once ...
you know ... the classic list of things to do before leaving Japan. Time went by, year after year, and I kept
on postponing my first trip to the Kabukiza ... until December 1998. I went there and I had the shock of my life.
It was a strong revelation. A kind of smaller version of what has happened to St Paul on the road to Damascus.
I fell in love with the art of Kabuki.

Thinking about it, I had the chance, thanks to this amazing December 1998,
program to enjoy "Ageya", "Tengajaya" and "Kumo no Hy˘shimai",
with Band˘ Tamasabur˘, Sawamura S˘jűr˘ and Ichikawa Ennosuke's troupe in
full regalia. I sometimes wonder how things would have turned if my introduction to Kabuki were say
"Genroku Chűshingura" or any other extremely serious (too serious, too rational and without any of the Kabuki magic in it) Shinkabuki dramas (donĺt get me wrong, I respect Shinkabuki ů
but it does not give me any pleasure). If it were "Genroku Chűshingura",
most likely there would have been no kabuki21.com at all! I would have gone to Kabukiza once, just like so many foreigners staying in Japan ...
I would have checked the Kabuki box, the one located above "Climbing Mt. Fuji" and below "Going to Sum˘"
and that would have been the end of the story.

Band˘ Tamasabur˘, Sawamura S˘jűr˘ and Ichikawa Ennosuke for the first day at the Grand Kabuki! I felt I was the luckiest and happiest person
on planet Earth when the Kabukiza stage curtain was pulled to end the show.
Tears were filling my eyes and I swore to myself this would not be my last time
at the Kabukiza! Next month, I was there for "Sanmon", "Seki no To" and "K˘chiyama"
with a new year gorgeous casting. Getting severely addicted to Kabuki, I went to the
Kabukiza, the National Theatre or others venues to enjoy
Kabuki several times a month. I started to read a little bit and learn more about this art and so many questions
popped up. Being very interested in History, I wanted to learn more about the origin of Kabuki,
the different periods in Kabuki history, the lineages and ... I was quite frustrated for I could not find what
I was looking for on the internet (it was before Wikipedia!). I've created a little website, gathering
data about Kabuki dramas, actors, history, glossary, programs ... it was in French at the beginning. Then, I've decided to use the 21st century Lingua Franca
and started in 2002 kabuki21.com. It took me quite a long time to get everything in English. Not a very good English unfortunately
but all the contents is now available and readable by more people around the world.

I am not an expert, I am not a Kabuki scholar and I am not a fine connoisseur with several decades of Kabuki on my art clock.
The consequence is that there are (unfortunately) many mistakes to be corrected here and there. This amateur project is nevertheless still going on,
with a regular monthly update, and it goes without saying that it is open to all. If you feel in the mood to write
a summary of a Kabuki drama, I would be extremely delighted to integrate your work within kabuki21.com!